France, April 4 -- US President Donald Trump has called Marine Le Pen's recent embezzlement conviction a "witch hunt" and said the charges should be dropped as he, Vice President JD Vance and billionaire Elon Musk line up in support of the French far-right leader.

On Monday, Le Pen, the prominent figurehead of France's National Rally, was handed a four-year prison sentence - two years suspended, with two to be served under home detention - for misusing European Union funds to pay party officials.

She was also fined €100,000 and received a five-year ban from public office, effectively blocking her from the next presidential race unless the ruling is overturned.

"The Witch Hunt against Marine Le Pen is another example of European L...